Toasted Snow

11/02/07

“The discontented child cries for toasted snow.”
-- Arab Proverb

It’s Friday. Sometimes you just don’t know what to write. In about 21/2 hours FUBAR plays Happy Hour. I’ve tried to come up with a list where I don’t have to sing.

Speaking of lists:

Ate a banana.
Stepped in dog shit.
Drank Yogi tea.
Listened to Jeff Beck.
Flossed.
Cleaned the kitchen light cover.
Read spreads for college football.
Listened to Ravi Shankar.
Picked college games.
Rinsed and gargled with salt and baking soda.
Talked to Brigitte on cell phone..
Practiced songs.
Put an apple (not a potato) in my pocket.
Pondered photo of Everglades.
Looked at the time.
4 o’clock

MEDICAL

NYT 11/02/07 2 Winning Drug Tests, One Expected and One a Surprise
An experimental drug from Vertex Pharmaceuticals helped cure more than 60 percent of patients with a tough-to-treat form of hepatitis C, according to data to be presented at a medical meeting that starts today. The results represented the highest cure rate yet reported for the condition—and the treatment was accomplished in half the usual time….Both developments will need to be followed up by larger trials. But the progree could be important for patients. At least three million Americans are thought to be infected with the hepatitis C virus, and the number of cases of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer caused by the virus is rising. The existing treatment—a combination of two drugs, alpha interferon and ribavirin—can cause debilitating side effects like flu-like symptoms, anemia and depression. The treatment for type 1 hepatitis C, the hard-to-treat form that accounts for 70% of the cases in the United States, takes nearly a year. Vertex’s pill, called telaprevir or VX-950, interferes with a viral enzyme. (See article for more) THE SURPISE: Romark Pharmaceuticals Alinika, also known as nitaoxanide, had previously been tested as a treatment for parasites. The drug's effectiveness against hepatitis C was discovered almost by accident. When tested as a treatment for parasites, the drug showed signs it was countering liver infection. (See article for more)

BIO-DRAMA

1954 was the year the Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in schools violated the 14th amendment of the Constitution. Roger Bannister would run the first 4 minute mile and Golding and Huxley would give us “Lord of the Flies” and “Doors of Perception.” In Africa, we lived in a house right outside Rabat. There was Mom, Dad, Nancy, myself, a brother Paul, and a new brother Peter. Our house was surrounded by lime orchards and watermelon fields. A Snapdragon garden separated it from the domicile of our Moroccan maid and gardener, Adoush and Abdul. According to the photos, and my mom, I spent most of the time in their company. What I hazily remember is a particular wedding feast I attended. The image is of a sheep being slaughtered. Ahmed, Abdul’s fisherman brother, is squeezing the bile out of its intestines. They would serve later as casings for mutton sausages. Ahmed once brought us an eel that dad cut up in the bathtub. Perhaps this explains my fondness for Unagi. We had a dog, King, that would viciously attack any and all strangers. Once, dad had to dress the wounds of a severely bitten local. I remember the victim’s howls of pain as dad poured rubbing alcohol on King’s fangwork. Although this was probably the most secure time of my life, the political situation was tense. Without checking, I assume we were witnessing the twilight of French colonialism. Technically it was French Morocco, but the de facto ruler was the Sultan, Ben Jousseff. I vividly recall being taken to a nearby railroad tracks to watch the King’s train pass by. Arab horsemen three abreast rode parallel with it and fired their guns into the air. Responding to the cadence of the shots we shouted in unison. “Hail! Ben Jousseff, Hail! Ben Jousseff.” I also see sunny Atlantic beaches, towheaded kid swimmers and flags that signaled shark conditions. I concur with the photos on these events.